282 Feeds and Feeding. 



In this trial clover hay proved far superior to timothy hay, putting 

 on 1.1 more Ibs. of gain daily for 84 days, a difference of 58 per ct. 

 in favor of clover hay. A ration of half corn and half oats fed in 

 conjunction with clover hay put on 0.5 lb. more gain daily than one 

 containing corn and no oats. In a second trial with clover hay for 

 roughage, 3 parts corn and 1 part oats proved more economical than 

 half corn and half oats, and a ration of 4 parts corn and 1 part wheat 

 bran proved superior to a corn ration. When much bran was fed 

 with clover hay the combination proved too laxative. It was found 

 that horses getting no exercise gained 24 per ct. more than those 

 walking 2.8 miles daily. Those in single stalls gained 8 per ct. more 

 than others in box stalls, because in the latter the horses took some 

 exercise by moving about the stalls. 



Valuing corn at 65 cents and oats at 55 cents per bu., and bran 

 at $26, oil meal at $32, clover hay at $11, and timothy hay at $12 

 per ton, the gain of Lot I, receiving corn and clover hay, cost 13.9 

 cents per lb., and of Lot II, on corn, oats, and clover hay, 12.4 cents, 

 while the gain of Lot III, fed timothy hay and the same concen- 

 trates, cost 20 cents per lb. The great superiority of clover over 

 timothy hay for fleshing horses is plainly shown. It is evident that 

 fattening horses require about the same amount of feed as fattening 

 cattle for a given gain in weight. 



III. PREPARATION OF FEEDING STUFFS FOR THE HORSE. 



447. Chaffed hay. In large establishments chaffing or cutting 

 the hay given to horses is usually advisable, because the cut rough- 

 age can then be accurately administered according to the needs of 

 each animal, dust can be allayed, and the feeding operations more 

 systemized and expedited. Horses that have been on the street all 

 day and have worked to the limit may be given meal mixed with a 

 small portion of the moistened chaffed hay, some of the nourishment 

 thus being passed to the stomach more quickly than is possible when 

 feeding long hay. On this point Lavalard, 1 summarizing extensive 

 experience with omnibus and cab horses in Paris, writes : * ' For the 

 past 4 or 5 years we have chopped coarse fodder, using a ration of 

 equal parts of hay and straw, and have found this practice the most 

 economical for several reasons : Straw may thus be made to form an 

 integral part of the ration, and the proportion of hay and straw may 

 be accurately regulated. Furthermore, horses waste much less of 



1 Expt. Sta. Eec., 12, p. 12. 



